It’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you age, it allows you to enjoy an active, fulfilled life.  The Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging provides a variety of health and wellness programs for seniors at Senior Community Centers.  Check out the Senior Centers for a county-wide activity packet as well as individual center calendars. Here are a few programs at-a-glance that may interest you.

Evidence-Based Programs

Programs recognized as evidence-based have demonstrated the highest level of evidence of effectiveness based on rigorous scientific evaluations in large studies of diverse populations or through multiple replications, and shown significant and sustained effects.  The Area Agency on Aging offers three evidence-based programs here in Lebanon County which are either endorsed or approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, they include Healthy Steps for Older Adults, Tai Chi for Arthritis, and Walk with Ease at no charge.   

Tai Chi for Arthritis

Tai Classes are once again being held at three of the Agency’s centers- Maple Street, Annville, & Myerstown. Click on the centers’ links for more specific information on class days/times.Tai Chi for Arthritis was developed by Dr. Paul Lam at the Tai Chi for Health Institute, the program utilizes Tai Chi’s Sun style for its ability to improve relaxation, balance, and its ease of use for older adults.  The movements are taught to both left and right sides and with turns to move forward and backward to improve mobility and offer a variety of combinations.

Each Tai Chi session includes:

• Warm-up and cool-down exercises
• One or two movements per lesson, progressively leading to completing the six basic core movements and six advanced extension movements.
• Breathing techniques
• Tai Chi principles including those relating to improving physical and mental balance. 

Seniors with or without arthritis can benefit from Tai Chi as it offers improved balance, muscular strength, and mobility.  It was also shown to improve psychological health, decrease pain, and prevent falls.

Website: https://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/programs/tai-chi-for-arthritis/

Healthy Steps for Older Adults

Healthy Steps of Older Adults is a fall prevention program that is designed to raise awareness of falls, introduce steps on how to reduce falls, improve overall health, and provide fall risk screenings to give participants adequate referrals to mitigate their fall risk in the future. Call the Agency for upcoming class details. (717)-273-9262

Healthy Steps is a free, two-part workshop. This is a group program, where participants are encouraged to share ideas and problem solve together.

It addresses many common causes of falls, including:

• Environmental safety

• Balance, strength, flexibility, and endurance exercises

• Nutrition

• Foot health

• Vision and Hearing

• Side effects of medications

• Active lifestyles

• Social connectedness

Website: https://www.aging.pa.gov/aging-services/health-wellness/Healthy%20StepsFallPrevention/Pages/default.aspx

Walk with Ease

Walk with Ease is a six week walking program developed by the Arthritis Foundation for those who need relief from arthritis pain or just want to be active.  This program can teach you how to safely make physical activity part of your everyday life. Call the Agency for upcoming class details. (717)-273-9262

It is proven to:

• Reduce pain and discomfort from arthritis

• Increase balance, strength, and walking pace

• Build confidence in your ability to be physically active

• Improve overall health

Walk with Ease is offered in Lebanon County in a group setting as you follow the six week program you will get support from program leaders and fellow participants.  You will also receive a tracking log and educational textbook.

Website: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/walking/walk-with-ease

Band Together with Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Strength training is an effective way to stay active and strong as you age.  Band Together is a strength training program that uses resistance bands in a group setting to help build strength and increase muscle function in a fun, social setting.  New members are always welcome to join any class. 

Participants tell us that “it is fun being with others during the exercise time” and “carrying packages and groceries from the store is much easier now!”

The Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging has partnered with Penn State Hershey Medical Center to offer this free program at multiple sites in Lebanon County. 

Class locations & Days: call 717-273-9262

Nutrition Education

• Calcium: Eat Right
• Less Added Sugar: Eat Right (English)
• Less Added Sugar: Eat Right (Spanish)
• Cut Down on Sodium (English)
• Cut Down on Sodium (Spanish)
• SNAP is Ending (English)
• SNAP is Ending (Spanish)
• My Plate for Older Adults  (English)
• My Plate for Older Adults (Spanish)
• Potassium Fact Sheet (English)
• Potassium Fact Sheet (Spanish)